Semiautomatic means for positioning control shafts



Oct. 25, 1938. LE ROY .1. LEISHMAN SEMIAUTOMATIG MEANS FOR-POSITIONING CONTROL SHAFTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 19, 1937 Oct. 25, 1938. LE ROY J. LEISHMAN SEMIAU'I'OMATIG MEANS FOR POSITIONING CONTROL SHAFTS Filed June 19, 19257 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 25, 1938 PATENT OFFICE SEMIAUTOMATIC MEANS FOR POSITIONING CONTROL SHAFTS Le Roy J. Lclahman, nus Angeles, cam. Application June 19, 1987, Serial No. 149,246

'1 Claims.

The invention herein described is a continuation in part of my Patent No. 2,084,851, issued June 22, 1937, and filed Dec. 15, 1934, and relates to improvements in automatic apparatus for turning rotatable objects about their axes to predetermined positions,

The purposes of this invention are to provide simple apparatus for turning dials, shafts and the like to the particular settings required in using an instrument or machine for a definite task; to affordmeans whereby a plurality of such rotatable elements may be simultaneously turned each to a pre-selected position which may be diflerent from that to which any other such element is being turned; to provide a simple manually operated control for accurately returning such rotatable elements to any desired previous position: to provide mechanism whereby a single manual operation will cause a plurality of rotatable members each to be turned to any one of a group of pre-selected positions; to provide means for simultaneously setting the dials oi a radio receiving set and a television receiving set; to make it possible for a single manual operation to tune either a radio set or a television set, or both; and to afford means whereby the apparatus may easily be adjusted so that a definite manual operation will cause the desired rotatable element to be turned to a desired position.

The application of this invention to radio and television makes it possible to "tune in a radio broadcasting station and its associated television broadcasting station in far less time and with much less bother than would otherwise be required. The large number of pictorial elements needed in television for the transmission oi a single detailed image within the time period 01' the persistence of vision, makes the use of short waves desirable; and iurther, the governments of various countries, have allotted certain irequencies in the short wave bands for this purpose. For these and other reasons, the satisiactory transmission of both sound and vision by radio waves requires that they be transmitted on diil'erent carrier frequencies. To receive both the sound and the associated television, the radio receiving set must be tuned to the frequency on which the radio broadcasting station is transmitting, and the short wave television receiver must be tuned to the difierent frequency or the television broadcasting stat on which transmits the images of the scene at which the radio program originates. The dial settings for these stations are entirely different, and it is therefore impractical to turn the dials synchronously by any connecting means, suchas gears, belts or a common shaft. The present invention makes it possible to accomplish this double tuning by a single manual operation.

Still other objects of this invention will be evident as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows part of the front panel of a combination radio and television set having a semiautomatic tuner in which the rotatable members are moved to a central position by hand.

Fig. 2 shows a set 01' rotatable members, or positioning arms, suitable for use in the arrangement shown in Fig, 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view oi the parts shown in Fig. 1, including the interior mechanism.

In Fig. 1, the positioning or tuning arms A and C are used for controlling two different devices, or two diflerent functions of the same device. The arms A may each be used to tune in a radio, or sound broadcasting, station; and the arms C may each be used for a television station. The arms A are attached directly to a control shaft as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, by means of their set screws R, and each arm is attached to a bushing 4, Figs. 2 and 3, and held in place by setscrew T. These bushings may be yoked together by a yoke B, as illustrated in Fig. 8.

The projections I, 2 and I, Fig. 1, attached to the front plate D, have the same dimension from the top to the bottom edge as do the positioning levers which protrude through the slots 0. For the sake of appearance, the set screws R and T for these positioning arms A and C have their heads set in recesses as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. To set this type of semi-automatic tuner, a. posi tioning arm and a projection, for example I. are grasped together between the index ringer and thumb while the set screw is loosened, the tuner adjusted by the regular control to the desired station and then the set screw tightened again. After all the positioning arms have been set in this way, a station may readily .be tuned in by bringing the required positioning arms to the position of the projection between them, as is shown in the figure where a pair of positioning arms are being aligned with projection 3 by means of the thumb and index linger. Positioning arms that may happen to be above the central projection when a tuning operation is started. may be brought down with the index finger, and those below may be raised by the thumb.

An arm above and an arm below the central position may both be brought to the aligning projection simultaneously.

In using this semi-automatic tuning apparatus, it is not necessary that the radio and television tuners be attached directly to the shaft or bushing indicated. The sets may be some distance apart and the motion of the automatic tuning mechanism transmitted by cords, belts, shafts and universal joints, chains, gears or even flexible shafts. Illustrating such transmissions, Fig. 3 shows a pulley G, mounted on bushing le, formed on yoke i, for transmitting the motion of the positioning arms 0 to a resonance-controlling device, as explained in my Patent No. 2,084,851 and illustrated in Fig. 4 thereof.

Various modifications may be made from the semi-automatic tuning device herein described without departing from the general nature and purpose of the invention.

My claims are:

1. A combination including a plurality of arms adjustably mounted upon a shaft, each arm protruding through a slot in a flat member having projections arranged in a row at a right angle to said slots, each 0! said projections located adjacent to a slot and having one dimension in common with said arms.

2. A combination including a plurality of first arms adjustably mounted upon a shaft; and a plurality of second arms adjustably mounted upon bushings on said shaft; each arm protruding through a slot in a flat member having projections arranged in a row at a right angle to said slots, each of said projections located adjacent to a slot and having one dimension in common with said arms.

3. A combination including: a rotatable tuning member; a manually movable element adjustably mounted on said rotatable tuning member; and a positioning member free from operative engagement with said element and located substantially adjacent to the path of movement thereof, said positioning member having at least one dimension in common with said movable element,

4. A combination including: a rotatable tuning member; a manually movable element adiustably mounted on said rotatable tuning member; and a positioning means located outside of, but substantiaily adjacent to, the path of movement of said manually movable element; said means positioned so as to be engaged by the operator's finger when said finger has moved said element into substantial alignment with said means.

5. A combination including a rotatable tuning member; a manually movable element mounted on said rotatable tuning member; means for atfixing said element in a predetermined angular position upon said tuning member; and a. positloning means located outside oi, but substantialiy adjacent to, the path 01 movement of said manually movable element and positioned so as to limit the movement of the operator's finger when the manually movable element is moved by said finger.

6. In a mechanism for angularly positioning a control member of a radio device, a combination including: a plurality of means for rotating said member each to a predetermined position, each of said means comprising an element that is adjustable relative to said member and held in adjusted position by means of a screw: a cover panel for said mechanism; each of said screws extending through the plane of said panel.

7. In a mechanism for angularly positioning the tuning shaft of a radio device, a combination including: a cover plate; a rotatable control member; and a plurality of means for rotating said control member each to an angular position predetermined by the adjustment of said means relative to said control member, each of said means comprising a manually movable element protruding through the plane of said cover plate, said element carrying a screw extending substantially longitudinally thereof for retaining said means in adjusted position.

LE ROY J. LEISHMAN.

DISCLAIMER 2,134,194.-Le Roy J. Let'shma'n, Los An POBITIONING CONTROL SHAFTB.

greles, Calif. SEMI-AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR atent dated October 25, 1938. Disclaimer filed January 16, 1939, by the patentee. Hereby disclaims claim 7 of said Letters Patent and disclaims from the scope of claim 6 of said Letters Patent all structure except that in which the element is movable angularly for ad'ustment urposee about an axis transverse to the axis of the screw,

' Gazette ebruary 14,1989J In using this semi-automatic tuning apparatus, it is not necessary that the radio and television tuners be attached directly to the shaft or bushing indicated. The sets may be some distance apart and the motion of the automatic tuning mechanism transmitted by cords, belts, shafts and universal joints, chains, gears or even flexible shafts. Illustrating such transmissions, Fig. 3 shows a pulley G, mounted on bushing le, formed on yoke i, for transmitting the motion of the positioning arms 0 to a resonance-controlling device, as explained in my Patent No. 2,084,851 and illustrated in Fig. 4 thereof.

Various modifications may be made from the semi-automatic tuning device herein described without departing from the general nature and purpose of the invention.

My claims are:

1. A combination including a plurality of arms adjustably mounted upon a shaft, each arm protruding through a slot in a flat member having projections arranged in a row at a right angle to said slots, each 0! said projections located adjacent to a slot and having one dimension in common with said arms.

2. A combination including a plurality of first arms adjustably mounted upon a shaft; and a plurality of second arms adjustably mounted upon bushings on said shaft; each arm protruding through a slot in a flat member having projections arranged in a row at a right angle to said slots, each of said projections located adjacent to a slot and having one dimension in common with said arms.

3. A combination including: a rotatable tuning member; a manually movable element adjustably mounted on said rotatable tuning member; and a positioning member free from operative engagement with said element and located substantially adjacent to the path of movement thereof, said positioning member having at least one dimension in common with said movable element,

4. A combination including: a rotatable tuning member; a manually movable element adiustably mounted on said rotatable tuning member; and a positioning means located outside of, but substantiaily adjacent to, the path of movement of said manually movable element; said means positioned so as to be engaged by the operator's finger when said finger has moved said element into substantial alignment with said means.

5. A combination including a rotatable tuning member; a manually movable element mounted on said rotatable tuning member; means for atfixing said element in a predetermined angular position upon said tuning member; and a. positloning means located outside oi, but substantialiy adjacent to, the path 01 movement of said manually movable element and positioned so as to limit the movement of the operator's finger when the manually movable element is moved by said finger.

6. In a mechanism for angularly positioning a control member of a radio device, a combination including: a plurality of means for rotating said member each to a predetermined position, each of said means comprising an element that is adjustable relative to said member and held in adjusted position by means of a screw: a cover panel for said mechanism; each of said screws extending through the plane of said panel.

7. In a mechanism for angularly positioning the tuning shaft of a radio device, a combination including: a cover plate; a rotatable control member; and a plurality of means for rotating said control member each to an angular position predetermined by the adjustment of said means relative to said control member, each of said means comprising a manually movable element protruding through the plane of said cover plate, said element carrying a screw extending substantially longitudinally thereof for retaining said means in adjusted position.

LE ROY J. LEISHMAN.

DISCLAIMER 2,134,194.-Le Roy J. Let'shma'n, Los An POBITIONING CONTROL SHAFTB.

greles, Calif. SEMI-AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR atent dated October 25, 1938. Disclaimer filed January 16, 1939, by the patentee. Hereby disclaims claim 7 of said Letters Patent and disclaims from the scope of claim 6 of said Letters Patent all structure except that in which the element is movable angularly for ad'ustment urposee about an axis transverse to the axis of the screw,

' Gazette ebruary 14,1989J 

